Remote-control speed indicator



March 27, 1945.

H. E. ANGOLD ETAL REMOTE CONTROL SPEED INDICATOR Filed Jan. 13, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l lttomeg In venture :Znyolzi I I I T 1 1 I March 27, 1945.

H. E. ANGOLD ET AL REMOTE CONTROL SPEED INDICATOR Filed Jan. 13, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1945.

H. E. ANGOLD ETAL REMOTE CONTROL SPEED INDICATOR Filed Jan. 13, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 27,1945. E A GOL ETAL 2,372,633

REMOTE CONTROL SPEED INDICATOR Filed Jan. 13, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I nventars Attorney.

Patented Mar. 27, 1945 2,372,633 armors-common semen mmos'roa Herbert Edward Angold and Edward Barnabas Angold, London S. W. 16, England Application January 13, 1943, Serial No. 472,294

In Great Britain January 12, 1942 13 Claims.

This invention relates to engine and like speed indicators provided with means for remote control and while of general application it is more particularly applicable for use on aircraft where the operating conditions, such as temperature conditions,- under which the indicator is required to be eflective are extreme.

The invention relates to speed indicators of the kind in which a rotary element is driven in synchronism with or directly by a shaft of the engine or the like the. speed which is to be indicated and serves for the operation of a rotatable magnet the field of which is caused to be effective to act against the action of a spring upon a drag element by which pointers or the like for indicating the speed are operated. For remote control of the indicator the rotary element may comprise the rotor of a synchronous motor that is supplied with current from an electric generator driven by the said shaft of the engine or the like directly or indirectly.

The invention has among its objects to provide an improved and simplified construction of such a speed indicator, to improve the qualities that the self-heating of the motor may not renof the indicator as regards its resistance to the effects of extremes of temperature and to provide an indicator that is substantially dead-beat in the indications which it gives.

According to the invention theshaft of the rotor is provided to be hollow and to serve for the reception therein of the spindle of the drag element or a bearing for the said spindle.

According to the invention, moreover,' the bearing for the spindle of the drag element may extend axially within the shaft of the rotor and be supported at the end opposite to that with which the spindle oi the drag element is engaged. It may be so mounted that it may be adjusted axially for the purpose of determining the extent of freedom to rotate of the spindle oi the drag element. For this purpose the bearing may comprise a rod-like element that is slid-- ably mounted in a sleeve adapted for a universal movement in a clamping or gripping device that is in fixed relation to the outer bearing of the spindle of the rotor, the said sleeve being split or otherwise provided to clamp the rod-like element when compressed by a clamping nut or the like. Alternatively the bearing may be prov ded merely as a rod-like element that at the outer end is screw-threaded to enga e the screwthreaded bore of an element of fixed position. such as a plug retaining the outer bearing of the rotor spindle in position in the frame of the motor, the rod-like bearing or element being secured in its adjusted position by a lock the like. Accordin to the invention, moreover, in order nut or der more severe the extreme heat conditions under which the indicator may be required to function, the motor is separated from the rotatable magnet of the drag element by a massive partition of a material that is relatively a nonconductor of heat and that may form the end wall of the casing of the motor at the end at which is disposed the rotatable magnet.

' According to the invention, moreover, the rotatable magnet is protected against the effects of the conduction of heat by the rotor shaft from the rotor by the inter-position of a protecting body of non-conducting material that may be in the form of a supporting sleeve for the magnet or in some other form such as an intermediate section of the rotor shaft.

The drag element is provided in known manner to be operated against the increasing force exerted by a, coiled spring but according to the invention the spring is anchored to the drag element or the spindle of the drag element at the inner end and'to a fixed element of the frame or casing at the outer end in such manner that when the drag element is moved under the effect of the field of the rotatable magnet the coiled spring is expanded. It is thus possible to ensure that no inaccuracy in the indication of the speed arises from the contacting of convolutions of the spring, even when the drag element is turned through a number of revolutions.

The spindle of the drag element is advantageously provided directly to operate an index or pointer and indirectly to operate a second index orpointer through a reduction gearing whereby the scale of the indicator may be provided to cover a wide range oi. indication.

The invention further comprises the constructional details hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the axis of a construction of speed indicator according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear end elevation, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the cover of the motor being removed. 7

Figure 3 is a front elevation illustrating the dial of the indicator.

Figure 4 is a cross-section of the rotor, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure is a cross-section taken on the line 5-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detailed axial section of the gearing between the pointers of the indicator, to an enlarged scale.

Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a front elevation and a side elevation of parts of the magnet system.

Figure 9 is a view in axial section of a modification of construction in the mounting of the hearing of the spindle of the drag element.

In carrying the invention into effect according to the particular construction represented in Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, by way of example, a three-phase alternating current generator (not shown) is provided having a rotor directly driven by the shaft of the engine the speed of which is to be indicated, or it may be coupled to the shaft through gearing in such manner as to be synchronous with the engine shaft. The supply leads from the generator are carried to the position of which an indication of the speed of the engine shaft is required to be given and are connected to corresponding terminals of the stator of a synchronous motor, which is thus supplied with the three-phase current from the generator.

The stator A of the three-phase synchronous motor is provided with the annular laminations i mounted in a housing or casing 2 in the form of a flanged cylinder of sheet steel or other suitable metal that is flanged at the one end and spun over the laminatlons at the other end. The said housing or casing is mounted in an aluminium frame B comprising a number of longitudinal bearer members 3 spaced angularly and advantageously connected at the one end to a ring or annulus 4 in the form of an outwardly directed flange and at the other end directed radially inwards and connected to a circular part 5 that is carried forwardly of the radial part of the members 3 along the axis to provide a massive circular annulus or ring the inner face of which approaches the near face of the rotor C.

The rotor is of squirrel-cage type and comprises a pair of spiders or rings 6 of copper or other suitable metal between which are clamped annular laminations I by means of a series of spaced rivets 8 extending between the spiders or rings parallel with the axis. As represented in Figures 1 and 4, the laminations 1 for a part of the width of the rotor are cut away transversely on a diameter, as at 9, for the formation of opposed poles that serve to maintain synchronism with the field, the remaining part of the width of the rotor being maintained cylindrical to serve to accelerate the rotor into synchronism.

The rotor is mounted upon a hollow metal shaft ill at a position determined by collars Ii, l2 of extended length disposed one at each side of the rotor and advantageously partly recessed into the spiders or rings 6, the shaft extending a short distance beyond the collar H at the one end and being extended beyond the collar l2 at the other end to form a spindle I3 by which the rotatable magnet D is carried.

The outwardly directed flange 4 of the frame B is provided to be received in a shallow seating I4 formed in the lateral face of an annular partition member E of massive form made from a material that is relatively non-heat conducting, such as a thermal-setting or thermo-plastic compound. The said partition member i provided with spaced inset bushes l5 of brass or other metal that are screw-threaded for the reception of the fixing screws by which the flange 4. of the frame B is secured thereto. The partition member E towards the centre is formed with a laterally di-' rected hollow cylindrical or annular part [8 the face of which comes to lie in proximity to the second lateral face of the rotor C, the said cylindrical or annular part being complementary to the central annular part 5 of the frame B. The two said parts 5 and I6 are formed with cylindrical recesses i1, i8, formed in the faces in proximity to the rotor and serving for the reception of thrust and ball bearings for the rotor spindle. The cylindrical recess l8 of the partition member E is advantageously lined with a cylindrical lining i9 of brass or like metal and the bottom of the recess is advantageously lined with a disc or ring 20 of metal, such as steel.

In the formation of each ball bearing there is provided a cylindrical bearing ring 2| of steel that is received into the bottom of the recess H of the central part 5 of the frame B or into the bottom of the lined recess l8 of the partition member E and is so disposed that the outer part is concentric with the outer end of the corresponding collar i l or I2 upon the hollow shaft ill of the rotor so that the opposing surfaces form rolling surfaces for the balls 22 of the bearing. The said balls are confined laterally at the one side by means of rings 23, of substantially square section, of brass, phosphor bronze Or the like, disposed within the bearing rings 2| and at the bottom of the recesses and at the other side by guide rings 24 of rectangular cross-section, of brass, phosphor bronze or the like, that butt against the ends of the bearing rings 2 i.

The outer ends of the collars H, i2 upon the rotor shaft Iii form thrust surfaces for thrust balls 25 that contact with complementary surfaces respectively formed by the lining ring 20 at the bottom of the recess it of a central art of the partition member and by a thrust ring 26 carried by a plug or sleeve 27 that is screwthreaded upon the exterior and that is engaged in a screw-threaded bore in the central part 5 of the frame B so that the thrust ring 26 is adapted for adjustment to determine the play of the thrust balls 25. The said plug 21 is locked in its position of adjustment by a lock nut 28. The thrust balls 25 are confined between longitudinal surfaces formed respectively upon the rotor shaft i0 and upon the rings 23 before referred to.

The frame B of the motor is advantageously contained within a housing or cover 29 of copper or like heat conducting material that is spun to embrace the outwardly directed flange 4 of the frame B, to which it is screwed by screws engaged in spaced peripheral lugs 30 and at the far end is extended to enclose the terminal fitting F for the conductors 3!, 32, 33' of the supply leads and to support a clamping sleeve 34 for the supply leads. The end of the housing 29 is flanged inwardly at 35 and is closed by a flanged cover 36 that advantageously is engaged by means of a bayonet joint device consisting of a strip 31 of sheet metal riveted to the inner side of the cover 36 and having the ends adapted to pass through slots (not shown) in the flange 35 of the housing whereupon the cover 36 may be partially rotated to lock it. The clamping sleeve 34 for the supply leads is advantageously formed in a thermal-setting or thermo-plastic substance and is split or in two parts so that it may be tightened about the leads by means of a clamping screw or screws 38 transversely disposed. The leads pass into the housing 29 by way of a bush-like part aavaosa ll of the clamp which projects through the wall or the housing, the clamp being secured to the housing by means of screw bolts 48. The terminal fitting F comprises a cup-like body 4| of thermal-setting or thermo-plastic substance that is recessed to receive the end of the plug 21 of the frame B and to allow of the protrusion of the clamping screws 42, 43, 44 by which the conductors of the leads are engaged. The terminal fitting is provided to be secured to the end of the frame B by screws or bolts 45. The terminal screws 42, 48, 44 are advantageously screened one from the other by screens 48 integrally formed with the body of the fitting.

The partition member E at the side removed from the motor is centrally recessed to receive partially therein the rotatable magnet D. The magnet is formed by a cup-like outer pole member 41 and by an inner pole member 48 having two or more pole arms 48 the faces or shoes of which extend into close proximity with the inner surface of the cup-like member 41 to form therewith pairs of poles and so that there is formed a narrow air gap in which may be disposed the cylindrical part 50 of an aluminium drag element of cup-like form.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the two pole arms 48 are formed as radial extensions of the ring like pole member 48 engaged upon a sleeve 52 of thermal-setting or thermo-plastic substance thathas a peripheral flange 53 at the one end forming a shoulder against which the cup-like pole member 41 may butt. The pole members 41 and 48 are spaced apart upon the sleeve by a massive cylinder 54 of an aluminium nickel alloy, while to the exterior of the inner pole member there is disposed a disc-like element 55 made of a temperature-sensitive metal that is formed with radial parts extending into the spaces between the arms 49 of the inner pole member 48, while shoulders 56 formed by angular recesses 51 in the lateral edges of the element 55 are received within slots formed in the pole shoes of the pole member 48 parallel with the surface of the latter.

The sleeve 52 bearing the assembled pole members 41 and 48 is mounted upon the extension iii of the shaft ID of the synchronous motor, which extension is slightly reduced in diameter to form the seating for the sleeve. the position of the sleeve being determined by a washer 58 butting against the shoulder formed by the change in diameter of the hollow extension of the rotor shaft. The assembled parts of the magnet are maintained in fixed position upon the spindle by a washer 59 fitting over the outer end of the sleeve and bearing against the outer face of the disc 55 of temperature-sensitive metal, the washer being held in position by a nut 80 screwed upon the end of the hollow shaft extension, which is peripherally screw-threaded for the purpose. In order to avoid as far as possible conduction of heat from the hollow shaft to the sleeve of the magnet the shaft is advantageously peripherally recessed for the middle part of the seating for the sleeve 52.

The partition member E is provided with a number of spaced metal posts 6| positioned parallel with the axis of the hollow shaft l8 and such posts serve for the support of two spaced discs or spiders i2, 65 having axial openings 64 and a concentric series of openings 55 to reduce the weight, the spacing of the discs or spiders 62, 63 being determined by spacing washersii and the discs or. spiders 82, 63 and the washers 66 being maintained in position upon the posts 8| by securing screws 81 that are provided with elongated hexagonal or like heads forming posts for the support of a circular dial plate I that is held in position by retaining screws 88 adapted to screw into screwed bores formed in the heads of the screws 81. The dial plate 88 is centrally apertured for the passage of the spindles of two indexes or pointers III, II.

Upon the outer disc or spider 83 there is secured a bearing plate 12 disposed parallel with the said disc or spider 8i and extending across the axis of the hollow spindle. The said bearing plate is supported from the disc or spider 88 by spacing columns 13 and is provided with a bearing bush 14 in which is mounted a hollow spindle ll having the forward part protruding through the central aperture in the dial plate 68 and having a peripheral flange 16 to determine the position of the boss or sleeve of the short index or pointer II that lies in proximity to the dial plate 88. The hollow spindle I5 is provided in the bore with a seating or a jewel bearing that serves to support the journal of a spindle 11 for the drag element that extends through the bore of the hollow shaft extension I3 to a position adjacent the front face of the partition member E.

A seating or jewel bearing I8 for the rear end of the spindle 11 is carried at the forward end of a rod-like element 19 that at the rear end is mounted in a bearing sleeve that for a part of its length is of spherical form and for the remainder of its length is cylindrical and provided with a screw-threaded periphery, the cylindrical part being split. The spherical part of the sleeve 80 is received within the plug or sleeve 21 by which the rear ball bearing of the rotor is confined. The spherical part of the sleeve 80 is clamped between a conical face 8| formed at the bottom of the recess in the plug 21 in which the sleeve 8|! is received and a clamping ring 82 that is screwthreaded on the periphery to engage the screwthreaded wall of the recess of the plug 21. The screw-threaded part of the sleeve 80 is adapted to receive a clamping nut 83 having the thread formed with a slight taper so that as the nut is screwed upon the bearing sleeve, the split part of the sleeve is compressed upon the rod-like bearing element I9. Thus, in setting up the spindle ll of the drag element 5| it is possible to effect any required radial adjustment of the seating or Jewel bearing 18 and at the same time any axial adjustment that may be required to give the necessary freedom of rotation to the spindle 11 of the drag element.

Figure 8 illustrates a modification of construction of the mounting of the rod-like bearing element 18 of the spindle 11 in which the element has at the outer end a cylindrical head 84 that is peripherally screw-threaded to be received into a screw-threaded bore 85 of the plug or sleeve 21 retaining the rear ball bearing of the rotors The said plug or sleeve advantageously has a cylindrical extension 86 disposed within the hollow spindle ID of the rotor. The rod-like bearing element is locked in its adjusted axial position by means of a lock nut 81 screwed to the outer end of the head. The head 84 may be slotted for rotation by a screw driver that may be entered into the slot through a central opening formed in the terminal fitting F.

The cupped disc 50 forming the drag element is mounted upon a boss 88 having a peripheral flange for the support of the drag element, the boss being fixedly mounted at a position immediately in proximity to the inner spacing disc or spideri82 upon the spindle H. A second boss at is fittedto the spindle H on the outer side of the drag element 50 in a position such that a part of it lies in the same plane normal to the axis as the spacing washers 60. The boss 89 (Figures 1 and 5) has fixedly mounted upon it the inner end of a spiral spring 90 disposed between the discs or spiders 62, 63 and the outer end of which is anchored by means of a fork-like fitting 9| to a suitable pin 92 mounted in one or other of the discs or spiders 62, 63. The direction of the convolutions of the spring is such that in the operation of the drag element 50 the spring tends to unwind.

The spindle 11 of the drag element 50 further carries adjacent the outer disc or spider 83 a with a tooth wheel 91 (Figure 6) fixedly mounted on the hollow spindle 15 of the short index or pointer II at the inner side of the bearing bush 14 for the said spindle I5 so that the rotation of the spindle of the drag element is transmitted through the said pinions and toothed wheels as through a reduction gear to the said index or by the said hollow spindle and a train of gear coupling the spindle of the drag element with the hollow spindle.

2. A remote speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising an enclosure within which the stator of the motor is fixedly mounted, a massive'partltion member of non-heat-conducting material forming one end Wall of the enclosure, a hollow shaft supporting the rotor of the motor and extending through the partition member, bearings respectively at the two ends of the enclosure for the said hollow shaft, the hollow shaft supporting the rotatable magnet system exterior to the enclosure and in proximity to the partition member, the spindle supporting a drag element and disposed co-axially with the hollow shaft, bearings co-axial with the hollow shaft and in fixed relation to the enclosure for the support of the said spindle, the spring being a spiral spring having one end in fixed relation to the enclosure and the other end in fixed relation to the drag element, the said spring opposing the rotation of the dra element, a dial plate in fixed relation to the enclosure, at least one pointer rotated from the dra element to indicate the speed upon the dial plate and means to supply current to the motor pointer 1|, while the journal of the spindle 11 extending through the jewel or like bearing ofthe spindle 15 serves to support the boss 98 of the long index or pointer 10 that is thus-directly operated by the drag element 50.

Each of the pointers 10, H is advantageously counter-weighted as at 99 and I00 and coated with luminescent material.

The partition member E together with the parts carried therefrom, including the dial 68 and the indexes or pointers 10, H is enclosed within a casing MI in the form of a cylinder of thermal-setting or thermoplastic material that is secured to the partition member E by screws I02 engaging nuts l03 set in the body of the partition member and provided at the forward end with a seating I04 for a glass or like transparent cover plate I05 that may be retained in position by an annular spring retainer I06. The casing l0l may be provided towards the forward end with a pcripheral collar I01 whereby it may be readily seated in the instrument board.

We claim:

1. A remote speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and the drag element, a hollow shaft upon which the said magnet system is mounted, the said shaft extending outwardly from the casing to receive the rotor of the motor, a spindle for the drag element co-axial with the said shaft, spaced bearings in fixed relation to the casing in which the said spindle is supported, a spiral spring anchored at the inner end in fixed relation to the drag element spindle in the disposition to be uncoiled on rotation of the drag element by the magnet system, spaced discs disposed one at each side of the spiral spring in fixed relation to the casing, the outer end of the spring being anchored in fixed relation to the discs, a dial plate supported from the discs and a' pointer supported upon the said spindle, a hollow spindle concentric with the spindle of the drag element, a second pointer supported to rotate the rotor.

3. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a, pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet sys. tem and the drag element, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall or the casing and supporting the rotor and magnet system; a co-axial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and having anchored to it the inner end of a spiral spring, a bearing element of fixed position co-axial with the hollow shaft; a support for the bearing element carried by and exterior to the casing and spaced bearings for the spindle respectively supported in fixed relation from and within the casing and by the bearing element.

4. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and the drag element, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor and magnet system, a coaxial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and having anchored to it the inner end of a spiral spring, a bearing element of fixed position co-axial with the hollow shaft, a support for the bearing element carried by and exterior to the casing and spaced bearings for the spindle respectively supported in fixed relation from and within the casing and by the bearing element, the spiral spring being anchored at the outer end in fixed relation to the casing in the disposition to be uncoiled on rotation of the drag element by the magnet system;

5. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled toa pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and the drag element, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor and magnet system, a coaxial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and having anchored to it the inner end of a spiral spring, a bearing.

element of fixed position co-axial with the hollow shaft, a support for the bearing element carried by and exterior to the casing, spaced parallel plates in fixed relation to the casing and disposed to the two sides or the spiral spring, one of which plates provides an anchorage for the outer end of the spiral spring, and spaced bearings for the spindle respectively supported from one oi the parallel plates and by the bearing element.

6. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled t a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and the drag element, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor and magnet system, a carrier for the stator of the motor mounted upon the rear wall of the casing, bearings for the hollow shaft supported respectively by the rear wall of the casing and the carrier, a bearing element or fixed position disposed co-axially within the said shaft, a mounting sleeve of fixed position and an adjustable ring element together forming a clamp for a head of spherical form on the bearing element, the said mounting sleeve being supported by the carrier, a drag element supporting spindle extending co-axially into the hollow shaft and subject to the action of a spiral spring and spaced bearings for the said spindle respectively supported in fixed relation to the rear wall of the casing and by the bearing element.

7. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and the drag element, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor and magnet system, a carrier for the stator of the motor mounted upon the rear wall of the casing, bearings for the hollow shaft supported respectively by the rear wall of the casing and the carrier, 9. bearing element of fixed position disposed co-axially within the said shaft, a sleeve upon the said bearing element having a spherical head and a screw-threaded periphery, the said sleeve being split, a clamping nut with tapered and screw-threaded bore for clamping the sleeve upon the bearing element, a mounting sleeve of fixed position and an adjustable ring element together forming a clamp for the head of the sleeve upon the bearing element, the said mounting sleeve being supported by the carrier, a drag element supporting spindle extending co-axially into the hollow shaft and subject to the action of a spiral spring and spaced bearings for the said spindle respectively supported in fixed relation to the rear wall of the casing and by the bearing element.

8. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor 01 a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and the drag element, a hollow-shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor and magnet system, a carrier for the stator of the motor mounted upon the rear wall of the casing, bearings for the hollow shaft supported respectively by the rear wall of the casing and the carrier, a bearing element of fixed position disposed eo-axially within the said shaft, the said bearing element having at the one end a peripherally screw-threaded head, a mounfing sleeve of fixed position supported by the carrier and having a screw-threaded bore with which the head or the bearing element engages so that the bearing element is concentric with the sleeve a lock nut upon the head of the bearing element, a drag element supporting spindle extending into the hollow shaft and subject to the action of a spiral spring and spaced bearings for the said spindle respectively supported in fixed relation to the rear wall or the casing and by the bearing element.

9. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and the drag element having a rear wall of non-heat-conducting material, a hollow shai't extending through the said wall of the casing and supporting the rotor and magnet system, a co-axial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and having anchored to it the inner end of a spiral spring, a bearing element of fixed position co-axial with the hollow shaft and supported exterior to the casing and spaced bearings for the spindle respectively in fixed relation to the casing and to the bearing element.

10. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a sp a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a-casing for the magnet system and drag element, the said casing having a rear wall of non-heat-conducting material, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor exterior to the casing, an insulating bearing member supporting the magnet system in fixed relation to the hollow shaft, a co-axial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and having of a spiral spring, a bearing element or fixed position co-axial with the hollow shaft and supported exterior to the casing and spaced bearings for the spindle respectively in fixed relation to the casing and to the bearing element.

11. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and drag element, the said casing having a rear wall of non-heat-conducting material, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor exterior to the casing, an insulated sleeve supporting the magnet system on the hollow shaft, a co-axial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and having anchored to it the inner end of a spiral spring, a bearing element of fixed position co-axial with the hollow shaft and supported exterior to the casing and spaced bearings for the spindle respectively in fixed relation to the casing an the bearing element.

12. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled to a pointer, comprising a casing for the magnet system and drag element, the said casing having anchored to it the inner end a rear wall of non-heat-conducting material, a hollow shaft extending through the rear wall of the casing and supporting the rotor exterior to the casing, an insulated sleeve supporting the magnet system on the hollow shaft the shaft being reduced in diameter to form spaced seatings for the insulating sleeve, a co-axial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and anchored to the inner end of a spiral spring, a bearing element of fixed position co-axial with the hollow shaft and supported exterior to the casing and spaced bearings for the spindle respectively in fixed relation to the casing and to the bearing element.

13. A remote control speed indicator in which the rotor of a synchronous electric motor drives a rotatable magnet system which rotates, against the action of a spring, a drag element coupled asvaess to a pointer, comprising a machanism-supporting element, a hollow shaft extending through the said supporting element and supporting the rotor and magnet system at the two sides of the supporting element, a co-axial spindle extending into the hollow shaft and supporting the drag element and having anchored to it the inner end- 

